Page 22 of Xtasy

“I don’t have a clue what any of this means, Meg,” Atlas said. “We both know I’m not anywhere near an expert in the relationship department. My heart tells me that I love Hawk and I need to fight for him. My mind tells me to step away before things get worse. I feel…lost.”

Meg dropped her ice cream container on the bed and wrapped her arms around Atlas. “We’ll get through this together, A. If Hawk is the right man for you, he’s going to be yours, whether Ambrose likes it or not. You know I’m from Tennessee, right? I know people who would kill him for a six pack of beer.”

Atlas laughed…or tried to. He didn’t feel nearly as confident as Meg. Always the pessimist, he automatically pictured the worst ending—him alone and Hawk with Ambrose.

“It’s going to be okay, A,” Megan offered. “For both of us. We’ll get through this together.” She snuggled them both into a horizontal snuggling position. “I’m just sad that both our hearts are hurting at the same time.”

“Me too, Meg,” Atlas answered. “Me too.”

Neither of them slept, but they remained silent throughout the night. Atlas clutched his phone to his heart. When Meg’s phone alarm went off at five in the morning, they were both mentally and physically exhausted. “I’ll go start the bacon and coffee,” Megan whispered. “Call your man and then help me.”

As Megan climbed out of the bed fort, Atlas whispered, “He’s not my man, I’m afraid.”

Atlas lay there, just staring at the fake ceiling made of decorative sheets. His phone was still in his hand, but he made no move to call Hawk. He was terrified of what was going to be on the other end of the line when he did call. So, he just lay there, wallowing in self-pity and waiting to grow some balls. A sudden crashing sound in the kitchen reminded him that he was supposed to be helping Megan, who was a disastrous cook, with breakfast. Atlas slid out of the bed fort, brushed his teeth, and started making his way toward the kitchen. Since both he and Megan had slept in their clothes from the day before, he felt icky. His preference would have been showers and then breakfast but Meg hadn’t asked. It was hard to understand how she could eat constantly and stay as skinny as she was. It was also hard to understand how she hadn’t burned their kitchen down yet.

Tucking his turned-off cell into his back pocket as he wandered down the hall, Atlas tried to convince himself that in the light of day, things would look better on the Hawk front. When he rounded the hallway that led into the kitchen, he screamed in alarm and raced across the room. Megan was bound, hands and feet, to one of their dining chairs. Duct tape was wrapped at least twice around her mouth. Tears streamed down her face as she tried to scream, even though the tape prevented much noise from escaping.

Dropping to his knees in front of her, Atlas asked, “Who did this to you? Here, let me help. Don’t panic, I’ve got you.” He cursed when he saw the ties that held her hands and feet trapped to the chair were zip ties. It would take a strong knife to cut through them.

Just as he started to stand up to retrieve the sharpest knife they had in the kitchen, he felt cool metal rest against his cheek…and the sound a gun makes when a bullet goes into the chamber. He froze. Megan’s eyes blinked wildly, looking at Atlas and then to the man behind him.

Fuck…would Ambrose actually hurt them? Was his infatuation that crazy?

“There’s my pretty pet,” a man’s voice cooed softly. “Your friend and I have been waiting for you to climb out of bed. I hope you aren’t the lazy sort. That characteristic is something I simply can’t tolerate in a person.” He laughed at himself, like the shithead he was. “Come on, love. Stand up. Slowly, of course. Let me see those beautiful pale blue eyes of yours.”

Atlas followed the man’s directions, patting Megan’s knee in what he hoped would seem comforting…an illusion because there wasn’t a thing he could do against a gun. As soon as he turned, a burst of confusion and then shock rushed through him. “Blaze?” It was the man from Ambrose’s opening night—the one that Hawk had gotten into a scuffle with. The man who was obsessed with Ambrose.

“In the gorgeous flesh, pet! Blaze Alexander, at your service,” He answered with another laugh. “Tell me, doll, you really believed those gifts and notes were from Ambrose, didn’t you? I knew you were silly enough to fall for it the moment I met you! So naïve. What in the world does he see in you?”

Atlas was beginning to get confused and even more frightened. Just looking into the guy’s eyes warned you he wasn’t playing with a full deck. “Ambrose?” Atlas asked.

“Of course not, sugar. Everyone has always thought it was Ambrose I wanted. Absolutely not. I’ve had my eyes on Hawk for years now…and with your help, I’m going to finally make him mine.”

Anger flooded Atlas’ veins. He would never allow this sicko to lay one finger on his Hawk. “You’re insane, Blaze. Hawk hates you. There’s nothing I can do to change his mind about that—not that I would even consider trying.” Atlas paused and then finally said what his heart had known all along. “I love Hawk and Hawk loves me. That leaves zero room for you. Get lost.”

“Don’t think so, lovey. Hawk will be mine, willing or unwilling.” Blaze grinned. “I’m not real picky on making sure my subs are in agreement to the scenes I choose.” He peeked around Atlas and smiled at Megan. “She’s your best friend, eh? I’m certain her safety is of the upmost importance to you right now, correct?”

“If you lay a finger on Megan, I will not stop until I see you dead. That goes for Hawk and Ambrose, too! Get out of here, you sick fuck!”

“Let me explain how this is going to happen. You are going to willingly walk beside me to the parking lot, get into my car, and then you and I will figure out a way to lure Hawk to the love nest I have arranged.”

“And you are full of shit,” Atlas countered. “I’m not going anywhere with you, now or ever!”

Blaze stood up, making himself even taller. “I won’t ask nicely again. If you don’t go with me, without making a scene, I’ll kill Megan right now. End of story. I hate women. They are weak. I won’t even lose a wink of sleep over putting a bullet between her eyes. You? I think you’ll have nightmares about it until you take your last breath.”

Atlas was amazed at the coldness in Blaze’s eyes. There was no doubt in his mind that Blaze would kill Megan without the slightest hesitation. Of course, Blaze was probably going to kill Atlas and abduct Hawk.

“Three. Two.”

“Fine!” Atlas screamed, doing his best to place his body between Blaze and Megan—anything he could do to protect her. “I’ll go with you. Just leave Megan alone, she isn’t a part of any of this.” Megan was shaking her head wildly, trying to convince him not to go with Blaze, but Atlas didn’t have any other choice at the moment.

“She’ll be perfectly fine if you do as you're told,” Blaze promised, almost looking sincere. “I know she shouldn’t pay for yours and Hawk’s sins.”

Scrambling for time, Atlas asked, “How will Megan get free? We can’t leave her here like this. She could die before anybody finds her. At least untie her hands. I promise I’ll go with you quietly.”

Blaze grabbed Atlas by the upper arm. “Your friend is resourceful, I’m sure she’ll find a way to release herself. Stop stalling. Let’s go.” With that, Blaze yanked him toward the doorway. “Remember, nice and quiet. If you try something, I’ll shoot you and get back up here to finish Megan off before anybody will have a chance to dial 911.”

A lot of things went through Atlas’ head as he obediently followed Blaze through the apartment building and down to the parking garage…but what bothered him most was that he hadn’t taken Hawk’s phone call last night. If only he’d been brave enough to have faith in himself and in Hawk, he wouldn’t be in this position. Hell, he should have had faith in Ambrose. The man had never been anything but friendly to him, but Atlas had been ready to believe the very worst. His damn insecurities were going to end up costing himeverything.

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